How long has it been since you were genuinely bored?
Boredom is nearly dead in a world full of distractions, including social media, streaming, and quick notifications. However, scientists are finding that boredom isn’t a problem with our system. It’s a feature. Additionally, it could be the component that creativity is lacking.
Our minds tend to wander when we’re bored. The brain’s “default mode” engages areas related to self-reflection, memory, and imagination. These are the times when ideas germinate—not while we’re actively thinking, but rather when our minds are wandering.
After completing a tedious job (sorting beans by color), participants in one research were instructed to come up with creative uses for paperclips. More creative ideas were consistently generated by the bored group. Why? Because the brain was hungry for stimulation and produced it internally.
Not all boredom is productive, of course. Passive scrolling and active daydreaming are two different things. However, by allowing yourself to intentionally be bored, whether it be through quiet time, walks without phones, or simply staring out the window, you’re allowing your creativity to flourish.
In actuality, some of the most famous concepts in history originated amid silence rather than bustle.
Therefore, don’t fight boredom the next time. Do as you are told.